“What do you mean by impure?” Diana asked, curious.
“Since we walk the line of the physical and spirit realms, we have to remain balanced or the Kratari will seek to destroy us.”
“How do you stay spiritually balanced, then?”
“How, indeed,” Darien replied, looking contemplative. “Not an easy question to answer—living a life void of extremes, for a start.”
Diana smirked at the notion. “Must be hard for you to be balanced, then.”
“You have no idea,” Darien said as his mouth twisted into a wide grin. “Why do you think I never joined the Ardeqai?” He took a sip of his drink.
“So can only the Almar and Ardeqai go inside the temple?”
“Pilgrims can go into the outer courts and visit the seven shrines, but the deep sanctums and the catacombs are off limits to the Uninitiated.”
“We should have brought Miri with us,” Diana said after considering his words.
“As I said before, the Chalice probably isn’t in the Temple—especially if Flinders and Charlotte somehow discovered its location. Humans are forbidden on the summit.”
“Not open to converts, eh?” Diana said with a sardonic smirk. “So the Chalice probably isn’t in the temple, got it.”
Diana finally took a sip of her drink and was amazed by the flavors dancing on her tongue. The bubbly beverage tasted quite a bit like champagne, but the strength of the bitter alcohol was masked by a pleasant berry flavor. Whatever it was, she loved it.
“What is this?” she asked before taking another sip. “It’s yummy.”
“We call it Trilvina—the drink of life.”
“It tastes like really fruity champagne.”
“That’s probably because it is really fruity champagne,” he said, amused.
“Huh?”
“It’s just as you said. Both our peoples have brewed beverages using the same basic techniques for millennia; we simply use a bit of magic to make them tastier and more potent. You are drinking what some ancient humans called ‘elven wine.’”
Diana downed the rest of her glass and smiled wide. “I could get used to this.”
Darien laughed and took the empty glass from her hand.
“You’d better watch yourself, my lady,” he said before downing his own. “Trilvina is much stronger than human wine.”
“Yes sir,” Diana replied with a mock salute. He was right—it had only been a few minutes but she already felt her cheeks beginning to flush as the alcohol went to her head.
The lights suddenly began to dim and a hush fell over the entirety of the courtyard garden as dancing couples and celebrants silently cleared the central dance floor.
Diana watched on in anticipation as the crowds gathered around and the musicians began playing an eerie melodic tune. In moments, a procession of Almar entered into the courtyard through a far gate and occupied the empty dance floor. Each Alma priestess wore robes with ivory tops and blue skirts, identical to Miri’s, and after a brief pause and a change in the song’s tone, they began to dance in unison along with the four Almar artfully wielding their magic atop the altars in the corners of the courtyard. The hypnotic synchronized dance went on for several minutes as the celebrants watched in quiet contemplation.
Diana couldn’t help but join in the reflective silence, awed by the sense of wonder and beauty that seemed to permeate the courtyard as the Almar danced for the Fallen on their most hallowed of nights.
The tranquil mood changed with the key of the music as each Alma excitedly broke off from the synchronized group of priestesses to take a dance partner from out of the surrounding crowd. As they began their couples’ dance, many other celebrants followed suit.
“Would my Maiden Fair care to dance?” Darien asked with a playful bow.
“Most certainly, good sir,” Diana replied with a curtsey.
It only occurred to her after the fact—as they were making their way to the dance floor—that she didn’t know any Naphalei dances and that she was most likely about to embarrass herself. They didn’t need the unwanted attention.
“Um…I don’t know your dances,” Diana said in a panicked whisper.
“It’s simple,” he replied. “Just watch what the others are doing and follow my lead.
“Okay…but if I fall on my face and embarrass us, it’s on you.” Diana took Darien’s hand and they quickly joined the other dancing couples.
After a few minutes of trial, error, and observation, Diana found that Naphalei dancing was very much like waltzes. She now blessed her mother—in place of the various curses she had often spewed—for making her learn how to waltz. Diana had hated it at the time, but her mother always told her that every proper lady should know how to waltz. Contrary to her mother’s belief, however, there were no proper ladies at school dances and Diana had never once needed to know how to waltz—not until she discovered magic, journeyed across the ocean, and attended a prestigious ball with her elven lord boyfriend. If mom only knew.
Lost in the simple joy she felt as Darien gracefully guided her throughout the dance floor, Diana couldn’t take her eyes from his, and he from hers, their warm smiles matching the beauty of the moment.
The wonder of the fairy tale dance came to an abrupt end when a sudden, startled, fear entered into Darien’s eyes, making them go wide as he tightly gripped Diana’s hand and stopped moving.
“This is certainly a surprise, Din’issi,” said a female voice speaking Vanicar from behind Darien. “It has been some time since I’ve seen you dance.” Though gravely startled, Diana felt a fair amount of pride at her understanding of the Naphalei tongue. She still struggled with some of the honorifics, however.
When Darien moved to face the bearer of the voice, Diana immediately felt the tension rise and twist inside her chest as she recognized the woman.
It was Edea Stoneheart—Darien’s twin sister.
“Dina’ssia! I wasn’t aware that you’d be attending tonight,” Darien replied with a tone that matched the peculiar emotions Diana felt from him. It was either fake joy mixed with utter surprise, or genuine joy mixed with fear and irritation. Either way, it probably wasn’t good.
Diana stood as silent and unmoving as a statue, feeling the greatest amount of angst she’d ever felt in her life, as she stared at Darien’s sister. From what Diana had learned, Edea was arguably the most powerful woman in the dominion of Qir’Halzereth. Apart from being an accomplished stone mage like her brother, she sat upon the Raven Throne—one of the highest offices in the land. Unlike most Naphalei dominions, Qir’Halzereth was ruled by a triumvirate elected by a High Council of Elders and Archons. Each Triumvir governed an area of society; the Lion Throne oversaw military and security, the Bull Throne oversaw economic matters, and the Raven Throne oversaw all matters of a religious or philosophical nature. In order to sit on the throne, each triumvir was to give up everything for the sake of leadership. They held no land or titles, had no wealth or possessions—they were to be bondservants to the people. The office was usually held for life, but a Triumvir was able to step down—if they felt so inclined—and could also be voted out of office if the High Council deemed it necessary. In either case, their former titles and possessions were not returned to them, the custom giving leadership the proper perspective.
This night, Edea Stoneheart did not look the part of the humble public servant that Diana had expected. She wore a black floor-length gown, the skirts in the mermaid style that hugged the thighs and flared out at the knees, and matching, arm-length, silken black gloves. Over her shoulders she wore a mantle made of long black feathers that gave her the effect of having raven’s wings. Her necklace of polished purple amethysts accented her matching lipstick perfectly and her black hair was tightly woven up under a pointed metal crown that sat upon her brow. Made from thick iron, the crown looked a great deal like a bird’s talons clutching at her head; it also looked quite ancient—likely a symbol of her office that had been passed on for thousands of years.<
br />
The very presence of the woman made Diana feel small and insignificant.
“I hadn’t been set on attending this year, but I decided it was necessary to keep my sanity,” Edea replied to her brother’s inquires. “The throne has been so vexing, lately,” Edea began rubbing at her temple with a gloved hand. “I also get very few opportunities to shed the shackles of service for a night and simply enjoy myself.”
“Too true, Dina’ssia,” Darien replied with a nod and Diana finally recognized dina meant “sister” and that he was using one of those confusing honorifics. “Sometimes it escapes me how trying it must be to be the youngest to sit on the Raven Throne in three millennia.”
“Yes, well, it was the path I chose,” Darien’s sister said with a slight hint of remorse. “I must admit, I do miss wearing finery and going to feasts and galas. The garb and company of authority is so dreadfully dull.”
Edea’s gaze finally landed on Diana and brought the Lady Raven back to the present. “Brother, you are being uncharacteristically improper this evening,” she said playfully. “You’ve not introduced your dear sister to your lovely companion.”
Diana involuntarily gulped in anxiety. The beautiful evening had quickly grown fearfully awkward.
“Ah yes, forgive me,” Darien said, looking apologetic. His anxious tension was twisting Diana into knots, and with her own emotions similarly on edge, she was quickly going to lose her faculties if she didn’t figure out how to ease the situation.
“It is a pleasure to meet you, my lady,” Diana interrupted, her gaze shifting to the temple for a moment before returning to meet the eyes of Darien’s sister. “My name is Udana.” She debated whether or not to add a quick curtsey but decided against it—it would probably have seemed too human.
“Please, call me Edea,” she said with a smile and turned to Darien.
“So Endymion, you have found your Moon Keeper, at last,” Edea said with playful sarcasm.
Darien looked at Diana with a warm smile that melted her heart and eased her angst. “Yes, it would seem I have.”
Edea caught sight of Diana’s necklace and gasped in astonishment.
“Mother’s necklace,” she said softly, turning to Darien. “You’ve pledged yourself and didn’t think to let your sister know of it? I must say, I’m a bit hurt, Endo.”
Darien looked fearful and embarrassed all at once—and not on account of his sister’s opinion. “It was quite sudden, Dina’ssia, I assure you,” he replied with a smile. “Just tonight, in fact. You are the first to know. It’s lucky you should be here this evening, to share in the joy.”
Darien obviously had not meant for Diana to know the significance of his giving her his mother’s necklace—not yet, anyway. She instinctively touched the precious gift around her neck, smiling as she gently held it between her fingers.
“Ah, young Stoneheart,” said a familiar male voice, interrupting the exchange between siblings. “I require a moment of your time—Council business.” Diana knew the voice from somewhere; it was on the very edge of memory, but she couldn’t quite place it.
The voice’s bearer, an older gentleman with a short, graying, chestnut beard that matched his medium-length hair, soon came up from behind Diana to stand beside Darien. He was also one of the very few Naphalei men she’d seen sporting facial hair, and in his rich royal blue vest and golden ornaments, he had a very natural aristocratic air about him—not like most other Toffs Diana had met thus far, who tried a little too hard to give the impression of nobility.
“Peridor’kon,” Darien said in surprise. “Forgive me, but I’ve not seen my sister in quite some time.” It was Peridor—one of the Council members who had been present at Diana’s enthrallment.
“Nonsense, Brother,” Edea said with a smile and a dismissive gesture. “Go with Peridor. It will give me a chance to get to know my future heart-sister.”
The hidden dread in Darien’s eyes brought Diana into the reality of the situation. The ring! With Darien gone, the beguile ring’s magic would stop working and she would be exposed as a human, before the face of the Lady Raven herself. There was nothing that Darien could do; he was being summoned by a high ranking member of the Council.
“Come, Endymion,” Peridor said, putting an arm around the shoulder of the younger man. “It’s only a small matter. You may return to these lovely ladies shortly.”
Darien nodded. “Lead on then, Peridor’kon.” He took one last look at Diana, trying very hard not to look worried, before making his way from the central area.
Diana was now alone with Darien’s twin, sweating with dreaded anticipation, waiting for the Sword of Damocles to fall. How long did she have before the ring’s magic stopped working? Even more a pressing—how was Edea going to react when she finally realized Diana was human? Would she be understanding of her brother’s love, or would she kill Diana on the spot? Diana’s heart ached—pleaded—with the beguile ring to continue working. God—Elberon—whoever is out there, please keep this thing working.
“Tell me more about yourself, Udana,” Edea said, looking at Diana with an assessing gaze. “From where does your clan hail? How did you come to snare my brother’s heart?”
Diana exhaled a deep breath she’d been holding in and tried to prepare herself, mentally and emotionally, for Edea’s subtle interrogations. She needed to think fast; her grasp of the Naphalei language was strong enough to understand a conversation, but not enough to hold one.
She had idea that just might work.
“Endymion taught me how to speak the human common tongue,” Diana said in English. “He is a most accomplished teacher.”
“Yes he is,” Edea replied, also in English. “But my brother is not the only one proficient in the Tanarai languages. I daresay, I have a grasp on many more of them than he does. Let us continue speaking as the humans do; I would like to test my brother’s teaching abilities.”
“As you wish, Lady Edea.” Baited, hooked, and reeled in. Diana felt quite proud that she had managed to finagle her way into talking in English.
“I told you, call me Edea,” she replied with a warm smile. “We are to be heart-sisters, after all.”
“Yes, forgive me—Edea.” As clever as Diana had been with the language barrier, she was at a loss for back-story. She would just have to let instincts guide her. “I am Clanless and do not call any dominion home.”
“Ah, so you are Udana, the Clanless nomad who wished to learn how to speak like a human,” Edea said with sarcasm. Darien’s sister already sounded skeptical.
Not good enough—you can do better than that, Diana. She searched every inch of her mind, drawing on the countless stories she’d enjoyed over the years for inspiration.
“My father and mother married against the wishes of their Archons and were both exiled. They chose to cut all familial ties and refused to tell my brother and I the names of their clans. We traveled from realm to realm, never staying in one place for long, as my father was a traveling musician and mother was a singer. They have both passed on and I have followed in my mother’s footsteps as a singer of legends and ballads.”
“I see,” Edea replied, continuing to asses Diana with her eyes. “Quite the tragic story it would seem. I am sorry for your losses.”
Diana sensed the tone of disapproval in Edea’s voice. The prospect of her Archon brother pledging himself to a Clanless girl from a family of nomadic musicians obviously didn’t appeal to the high-born lady, but it was all Diana could think of on the spot. At least it was better than the truth.
“I had a feeling Endo would wed a Bard,” Edea said with a chuckle. “He always did love Mother’s ballads.”
To Diana’s surprise, Edea’s expression softened dramatically and Diana felt the Lady Raven’s apprehensions slowly fading away. Edea was genuinely happy that her brother had finally found his true love.
Diana already felt herself warming to Edea—which made the situation all the more complicated. Was it so much to ask that Darien’
s sister be understanding of humans? Why couldn’t she be more like Miri?
“How did you come to be acquainted with Endymion, and procure his teaching abilities?”
“I was visiting a friend of mine—Miraena Swiftriver. She is currently a Watcher alongside Endymion in the human realm called Ohio. I had difficulties conversing with the human locals, so Endymion offered to teach me the English.”
“They simply call it English, dear,” Edea said with a lecturing tone quite reminiscent of her twin. “The definite article is not required with proper names.”
Even though Diana had flubbed on purpose, she found the irony of Edea lecturing her on the nuances of her own native language rather amusing.
When Diana finally saw Darien making his way back to them, she sighed with more relief than she had ever felt in her eighteen years. Though initially looking panic-stricken, his demeanor suddenly shifted to surprise once he saw Diana and Edea conversing happily with smiles on their faces.
“I forgot how much I abhor Council business,” he said upon his return.
Edea’s expression was stern and disapproving. “You shirk your Archon duties much too often, Endo. Father would not be proud.”
“Father is dead,” Darien shot back in cold anger. “And I’m a poor replacement, I know. I see it in the eyes of the Council every time I sit in the Assembly. Why do you think I avoid the Spire?”
“Perhaps if you took your position more seriously, they would respect you,” Edea replied with a bit more sympathy.
“There’s little chance of that, Dina’ssia,” Darien replied. “I’ll always be that jumped up youngling in their eyes.” He sighed with longing, shaking his head. “If only you had come into the world first, Edea. You’d have been the Archon Father could be proud of. I’m much better suited to the Seeker’s life; the ancient dead don’t cast as long a shadow.”
Edea put a gentle hand to her brother’s shoulder and the Stoneheart siblings shared a tender moment that made Diana sad to be an only child.
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